Vienna recently installed traffic lights that use same-sex couples to signal "walk" and "stop." It's a show of the city's acceptance and welcoming of the LGBT community, but it turns out people also pay better attention to the new lights, even if they're snapping photos.

More than a million Syrian refugees could face hunger and death in the near future because the UN is running critically short of funds to provide food relief. And today is Giving Tuesday around the globe —have you donated to a non-profit yet? And Iranian cyber-attackers have infiltrated dozens of Western businesses in 16 countries. All that and more, in today's Global Scan.

Imagine the foes of fracking and you'd probably put Greenpeace at the top of the list. But add Vladimir Putin too — someone who rarely sees eye-to-eye with the environmentalists. But he has his own reasons, not tied to saving the Earth. Meanwhile, there's tension over US military actions in Iraq. Those stories and more in today's Global Scan.

Eurovision is supposed to be fun, family entertainment, though politics occasionally intrudes. This year, Russia and Ukraine may be fighting over who controls Crimea's vote. And then there's the issue of Austria's drag queen performer.

Dmitry Firtash, one of Ukraine's richest men, was arrested last week in Austria on an FBI warrant. The natural gas oligarch has ties to the ousted government of Ukraine, Russia's leaders and perhaps even Britain's Conservative Party. And he has information that might help with sanctions against Russia.

Imagine the foes of fracking and you'd probably put Greenpeace at the top of the list. But add Vladimir Putin too — someone who rarely sees eye-to-eye with the environmentalists. But he has his own reasons, not tied to saving the Earth. Meanwhile, there's tension over US military actions in Iraq. Those stories and more in today's Global Scan.

If climate change goes as predicted, it is going to get harder and harder to find cities with the weather and infrastructure to successfully host the winter Olympics. And as winter retreats around the world, will people still even care about the winter games?

Maggi seasoning is popular among American immigrants of all kinds of nationalities -- and they all think of it as coming from home. But, in reality, few American immigrants are from the actual home of Maggi seasoning. But, for some reason, it still reminds each of them of where they've come from.

Vienna recently installed traffic lights that use same-sex couples to signal "walk" and "stop." It's a show of the city's acceptance and welcoming of the LGBT community, but it turns out people also pay better attention to the new lights, even if they're snapping photos.

For male downhill skiers, it's not quite time to focus on the Olympics. This weekend is the toughest race of the men's downhill season, at the Streif track at Kitzbuhel, Austria.. It's a downhill course with an incredible history, a history that makes it even dangerous.

Vienna recently installed traffic lights that use same-sex couples to signal "walk" and "stop." It's a show of the city's acceptance and welcoming of the LGBT community, but it turns out people also pay better attention to the new lights, even if they're snapping photos.

Eurovision is supposed to be fun, family entertainment, though politics occasionally intrudes. This year, Russia and Ukraine may be fighting over who controls Crimea's vote. And then there's the issue of Austria's drag queen performer.

Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe will be skiing for his birth country, Mexico, this winter in Sochi. It's his fifth Winter Olympics. His chosen ski suit resembles a mariachi singer, but the eccentric prince isn't an Olympic tourist he says.

If America defaults on its debt this week, it won't be the first economic superpower to do so. Imperial Spain was a chronic defaulter in the 16th and 17th centuries, and this helped lead to its downfall.

For male downhill skiers, it's not quite time to focus on the Olympics. This weekend is the toughest race of the men's downhill season, at the Streif track at Kitzbuhel, Austria.. It's a downhill course with an incredible history, a history that makes it even dangerous.

If climate change goes as predicted, it is going to get harder and harder to find cities with the weather and infrastructure to successfully host the winter Olympics. And as winter retreats around the world, will people still even care about the winter games?